Meitei Panan in India

Meitei Panan
Photo Source:  Anonymous 
Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Meitei Panan
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 14,000
World Population: 14,000
Primary Language: Meitei
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Hindu - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Meitei refers to people in India's state of Manipur. Meitei is the language of several people groups in northeastern India including the Panans.

Where Are they Located?

This Hindu people group lives in India's northeast, especially the state of Manipur.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Panan Meiteis still earn a living by farming, though the younger generation would like to use their education to enter more modern fields.

The Panan Meitei are very resistant to change, particularly in the area of religion. Outsiders trying to spread the gospel are usually rejected in this land that has accepted both Hinduism and Islam. There are believers from many parts of northeastern India who could go to them -- pray for spiritual hunger among the Panan Meitei.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Though there is also a strong Islamic presence in Manipur the Panan Meitei are Hindu. They worship and appease various gods and goddesses they believe can help them with their daily lives. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews.

What Are Their Needs?

The Panan Meitei people need to hear that they need a Savior, and there is no Savior except for Jesus Christ, the King of kings.

Prayer Points

Pray that God will send culturally-sensitive missionaries who will show them the way to the cross.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Panan Meitei people teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Panan Meitei families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for teams of believers to do sustained, focused prayer for the Lord to open the hearts of Panan Meitei family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.

Text Source:   Keith Carey